Child Sexual Abuse Attorney

Specializing in California Childhood Sexual Abuse Law

Sexual Abuse by Clergy

We have helped hundreds of child sexual abuse survivors win claims against priests, ministers, and clergy who are associated with religious institutions.

Sexual Abuse by Teachers

If you or your child were sexually abused by a teacher, counselor, coach, or any one else in an educational setting, then we can help you.

Athletic Coach Abuse

We successfully represent children and adults who were sexually abused by coaches, referees, and assistants in organized youth sports.

Youth Serving Organizations

We represent child sexual abuse victims against youth organizations like The Boy Scouts of America and The National Police Explorer Program.

Our Current Cases Include

Los Angeles Archdiocese

St. Louise De Marillac Catholic Church

For Sexual Abuse by Father Christopher Cunningham in Covina, California

Los Angeles Archdiocese

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

For Sexual Abuse by Father Carlos Rene Rodriguez in Santa Paula, California

All-American Boys Chorus

Archdiocese of Los Angeles & Diocese of Orange

For sexual abuse by Father Richard T. Coughlin in Costa Mesa, California

AYSO

American Youth Soccer Organization

For Sexual Abuse by Convicted Child Molester Terence Paul Stevens who was a soccer coach in Santa Barbara County and San Diego, California

$1,000,000 settlement

Alhambra Unified School District

For Child Molestation by Convicted Special Education Teacher, Jose Mosqueda

$5,700,000 settlement

The City of Irwindale

Police Explorer Program, Irwindale Police Department

For Sexual Abuse Committed by Officer Daniel Camerano

$2,750,000 settlement

Are you the parent of a child who has been sexually abused?

Anthony DeMarco will help you through this most challenging and emotionally confusing time. As Southern California's leading child sexual abuse attorney, Anthony can provide you with the legal direction and clarity that you and your child need. Child sexual abuse law is our full-time specialization!

Your phone call is free and everything you talk about with us is 100%PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

According to the American Psychological Association, Child Sexual Abuse is sexual activity where the perpetrator intentionally takes advantage of a child's limited ability to give consent by force, coercion or psychological manipulation.¹ The perpetrators usually know their child victims and seek out positions in the community as trusted adults in an effort to gain access to and manipulate their victims in their interest as a pedophile. The NSVRC notes that child sexual abuse can be manifest in many different forms, including but not limited to rape, touching & fondling, sexual assault, indecent exposure, voyeurism & stalking, and the production or sharing of pornography with a minor. Child sexual abuse does not need to include physical contact and, in some cases, is mostly psychological.²

Child Sexual Abuse Statistics

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before they reach adulthood.³ Nevertheless, only 30% of sexual abuse cases will be reported, on average. Children often delay disclosure or avoid reporting instances of sexual abuse out of embarrassment and fear of getting in trouble by their parents or because of explicit threats or coercive measures on the part of the perpetrator. Sometimes children do not even understand that they are being sexually abused, as perpetrators will often prey on a child's innocence and social influences by manipulating their target through a process referred to as "grooming."

Need to speak with a child sexual abuse attorney?

If you or a loved one were sexually abused by a priest, teacher, coach, youth mentor, or any other authority figure in Southern California, then Anthony DeMarco can help you. By contacting us now, you will have the opportunity to speak directly with an expert child sexual abuse attorney to discuss an action for compensation that will get you the justice and closure that you deserve. We want you to know that if you decide to take action, your privacy will always be respected and your identity can remain confidential throughout the entire process.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was sexually abused when I was a child. Is it too late to contact a child sexual abuse attorney?

No. It is never too late to contact a lawyer. We understand that this is a very difficult time for you and in some cases, you may have just begun to recall the memories of your childhood sexual abuse. The California Statute of Limitations for sexual abuse is very specific. We can help to review the circumstances of your case with you to determine the appropriate legal actions and resources that are available to you.

My child might have been sexually abused. What do I do?

As parents ourselves, we understand that you're going through a very difficult time. It is essential that you and your child take the time to emotionally heal from this process. However we also know that this is a difficult time to make clear decisions. It is easy to become overwhelmed between police investigators, forensic analysts, institutional bureaucracies, and even the media and social networks.

We can help you through all of it. By contacting a lawyer who specializes in child sexual abuse, you will have an expert legal advocate and advisor who can counsel you through this entire process. A good lawyer will help you find the emotional support you need while also representing your family's best interests.

If I file a sexual abuse lawsuit, will my family and reputation be affected?

Never! Client privacy and confidentiality are our utmost concern and your legal right. We will gladly explain the terms of our client/lawyer confidentiality agreement and uphold any and all requests by you to remain anonymous. Your privacy begins from the first moment you contact us and your identity can remain confidential at all times; before, during, and after the case.

Will the perpetrator who abused me be convicted because of my lawsuit?

In some cases, yes. However the California Statute of Limitations for criminal offenses is different than civil law. So, sometimes a perpetrator or the organizations that they worked for can be held liable for damages in civil court even though the sexual perpetrator can no longer be charged in criminal court. We will be happy to listen to you and the details of your case and to help explain how and to what extent the California Statute of Limitations applies.

How long will it take to run my civil lawsuit case?

It depends, no, really. Unfortunately there's no simple answer for this question. Many factors determine the length of a civil lawsuit. Whether your case is settled outside of court or goes before a judge and jury, rest assured, that we will handle all of the work for you. You pay us nothing until your case is closed!

How do I know if I was molested as a child?

This is a very good question.

We find that a lot of people assume that child molestation requires forced sexual contact on a child by an adult. This is not entirely true. We recommend you read an article on our website where we discuss a specific California child molestation law to help answer your question.

Memories, Sex Abuse, and Childhood Experiences

The American Psychological Association also offers an informative resource on the topic of "Memories of Childhood Abuse." It is common for adults to suppress memories of child molestation. What is important is that you seek the help of a licensed professional counselor (such as an LMFT, LPCC, or LCSW) or psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) to address your concerns.

It is also important to understand that every circumstance is different. The U.S. Department Of Justice reports that males are less likely to understand and accept that they were sexually abused due to the social and peer-related pressures that surround them.¹

A boy, for example, may not readily understand that the physical attention that he received from his teacher, coach, youth minister, or priest was actually sexual abuse. This tendency for males to avoid acceptance of having been sexually abused largely stems from social pressure. At the family level, males are expected to be personally responsible for their actions. At the community level, men are expected to protect, more so than to be protected. As a result, men are less likely than women to ever discuss inappropriate behavior that they experienced by an adult when they were children.

What constitutes Child Sexual Abuse?

In the state of California, the legal underpinnings regarding age of consent are complex. Furthermore, the question of consent imputed to minors has been applied by the courts differently in criminal cases and civil cases. Nevertheless, in California, any type of sexual activity between an adult and a child may constitute child sexual abuse. It is also important to note that child sexual abuse DOES NOT need to include physical contact between the perpetrator and the child. The following is a list of some known forms of child sexual abuse:

Indecent exposure of oneself to a minor

Touching and Fondling above or beneath clothing

Kissing

Intercourse and oral copulation

Masturbation of oneself in the presence of a minor

Coercing sexual conduct from a minor such as masturbation or disrobing

Our Philosophy

We believe that sexual abuse is one of the worst things that can ever happen to a child. For this reason, we are committed to helping victims and families of child sexual abuse at all times.

As a full-time child sexual abuse attorney, Anthony DeMarco is dedicated to helping all survivors of childhood sexual abuse recover fully from the pain and injuries that were caused by their abusers. We also believe that any institution or corporate structure that did not act appropriately to help protect our clients from being sexually abused should be held liable for the horrible acts that happened within their organization.

As a team, we are joined in our clients' mission to expose institutions that cover-up sexual abuse, so that it never happens again to innocent children in the future.

And as counsel, we seek to help our clients have better lives, by sensitively confronting the past and supporting the courage that it takes to become a survivor of abuse rather than to be a victim of it.

More than just a child sexual abuse attorney...

...we are your support network.

Why Anthony M. DeMarco?

There are many law firms that will represent you and your sexual abuse case. But our unprecedented successes and reputation in the field stand on their own and make Anthony DeMarco a leading child sexual abuse attorney in Southern California. Judges, mediators, and sexual abuse experts across the country respect us as much as our clients do...and that is what sets us apart from others.

See for yourself. By visiting the many links and resources that we've made available to the public here on our website, we are confident that you will see how dedicated Anthony DeMarco is to helping all survivors.

But you don't have to take our word for it. Simply Google Anthony DeMarco and the results will speak for themselves.

If you have questions regarding the Law Office of Anthony M. DeMarco, you should give us a call. We will do everything possible to help guide you on your path as a survivor and to help you obtain the legal representation that you deserve.

FREE, PRIVATE, AND CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATIONS

+1 (626) 844-7700

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